There Was a Little Girl Who . . .

There Was a Little Girl Who… teaches her teacher about empathy. The year is 1969 and Josh Reuben is hired by the Shriver family to privately tutor their daughter, Jenny Shriver, a fictional character related to the Kennedys. She lives in the Kennedy compound. Josh is a draft-avoiding teacher from the Bronx, who is raw, untested, and unmotivated. An English teacher in a South Bronx middle school, Josh is an abysmal failure. Then he applies to teach piano to Jenny … and is hired to teach all her classes.

The girl blossoms under his tutelage, while he becomes motivated by Jenny and discovers the true meaning of teaching others. Then tragedy strikes. 

Inspired by his connection to his student, Josh learns the real meaning of educating others, and uses what she taught him to become an excellent teacher. Josh’s relationship as a teacher to Jenny teaches him about love – and because of this – he can love another.

The author of nine published books, Gary D. Chattman was a teacher/administrator in the New York City Public Schools; a professor in various subjects at Pace University, College of New Rochelle, Westchester Community College, and Lehman College; and is a concert pianist and piano teacher. He is also a rabbi, who has officiated at 293 B’nai Mitzvot. He has been happily married to his wife, Patti, for almost 47 years and is the grandfather to three.